Living Low Carb y Johnny Bowden

If you are overweight and having trouble losing the extra pounds (or keeping them off), there is a good chance that carbohydrates are your problem. In Living Low Carb, nutritionist Johnny Bowden describes the link between carbohydrates, insulin and fat storage. (I previously summarized this relationship in my review of Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes.)

 Bowden lays this information out very thoroughly in a way that will be accessible to most readers. What he adds is a lot of information on how to implement a low-carb diet that works for you.

 One way he does this is by reviewing 23 diet books and programs. Not all are strictly low-carb, but all limit carbs more than the typical American diet, and Bowden feels they are good blueprints for generally healthy eating. He rates most of the programs highly. The book has been through several editions, so he has weeded out the lesser programs.

 Part of his review of each is his ideas about who might benefit most from the program. Everyone is different, especially in their lifestyles. An otherwise sound program that is a poor fit for your life and personality is going to fail. Bowden’s advice will help you had off a false start.

 He provides a lot of advice that will be helpful for any low-carb diet you may pursue. In addition to the books reviewed, he provides a lot of other references. Some of these are cookbooks. I think this is great. If you want to eat differently, you need ideas about what to eat. I intend to check out some of the cookbooks he recommends.

 Bowden pulls his information from a lot of nutrition and medical research, but his style is conversational and easy to understand. Readers can expect to be informed about carbohydrates and how they affect our bodies and health, especially related to weight., without being overwhelmed by technical terminology and figures.

 Bowden, Johnny. Living Low Carb: Controlled-Carbohydrate Eating for Long-Term Weight Loss. New York: Sterling, 2013.